Sprinkler with sidewall deflector

ABSTRACT

A fire extinguishing sprinkler is provided with an improved deflector positioned on the frame thereof opposite the discharge opening and forming a caplike device having a relatively flat right angular section with respect to the frame of the sprinkler on which it is mounted with angularly disposed parallel flat sections on the sides thereof and a depending and downwardly and forwardly formed extension on one end thereof the sides of which are joined to the angular sections to form a horizontally positioned cup opening toward the frame of the sprinkler.

United States Patent Vorkapieh Apr. 29, 1975 [5 SPRINKLER WITH SIDEWALL 2.295.088 9 1942 Kleuckcr 239/524 x DEFLECTOR 2.862.565 12/1958 Dukes t v v l a A a l t 169/37 X 3.726.344 4/1973 Rothman ct all l69/l9 X [75] Inventor: Theodore Vorkapich. Brunswick.

Primur Examiner-Ml Henson Wood. Jr. 73 Assignee; American Laprance 1 Assistant E.\'aminerMichael Mar wm Ohio Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Webster B. Harpman [22] Filed: Jan. 18. [974 [57] ABSTRACT H PP N05 434684 A fire extinguishing sprinkler is provided with an improved deflector positioned on the frame thereof op- [53] Us. 169/37: 239/524 posite the discharge opening and forming a caplike de- [51 1 IL CL U A626 37h) vice having a relatively flat right angular section with [58] Field of Search 169/37 38 40 respect to the frame of the sprinkler on which it is 239/518 mounted with angularly disposed parallel flat sections l on the sides thereof and 21 depending and downwardly [56] References cued and forwardly formed extension on one end thereof the sides of which are joined to the angular sections to UNITED STATES ENTS form a horizontally positioned cup opening toward the 783.826 2/l905 Dinkcl 239/523 frame f the sprimden HWY/A15 4/I928 Locpsmgcr 2.046.169 6mm Knight 169/37 x 7 Claims. 5 Drawing g r SPRINKLER WITH SIDEVIALI. DEFLECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to fire extinguishing sprinklers incorporating sidewall deflectors as used in automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler systems.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior structures of this type may be seen in LS. Pat. Nos. 868.459. 2.04616) and 2.1011194. This invention discloses an uniquely shaped deflector which utilizes all of the water delivered through the discharge orifice of the sprinkler to create a desirably sidewardly directed pattern that will effectively control a fire in the area to wards which it is directed with a minimum of water loss from the desired pattern. The deflector may be mounted on sprinkler frames of a standard and known configuration and utilizes the configuration of the sprinkler frame to enhance the pattern coverage obtaincd through the use of the improved deflector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present imention discloses an improvement in the deflector of a side-wall sprinkler used for fire extinguishing purposes. The improved deflector provides deflecting surfaces and a horizontally disposed cup formed in conjunction with the deflecting surfaces to receive and redirect a stream of fire extinguishing fluid around and about the upper portions of the frame of the sprinkler on which the deflector is mounted so that a desirable spray pattern covering a given area is produced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation of a fire extinguishing sprinkler with the improved deflector mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on line 22 of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a top plan view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 ofFlG. l. and FIG. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT By referring to the drawings and FIGS. I and 2 in particular it will be seen that a fire extinguishing sprinkler comprises a sprinkler frame having a base portion 1] exteriorly threaded at 12 and defining a vertical passageway axially thereof the upper end of which forms a discharge orifice normally closed by a cap I3. The upper central portion of the frame I0 is enlarged as at I4 and receives and retains an improved deflector generally indicated at 15. the subject of this invention.

The improved deflector 15 is secured to the sprinkler frame It) by a fastener 16 positioned through an aperture therein and engaging the enlarged upper central portion 14 of the frame III. The lower end of the fastener 16 forms a compression pin in axial alignment with the discharge orifice of the sprinkler and is normally engaged against a lever and heat releasable fastener assembly I7 such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3.599.723.

Those skilled in the art will observe that any approved lever and heat releasable fastener assembly may be employ ed in a fire extinguishing sprinkler along with the improved deflector of this invention.

The deflector I5 includes a relatively flat. rectangular top portion I8 the width of which is greater than the diameter of the enlarged upper central portion I4 of the frame III and the length of which from front to back as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings is only slightly less than the width of the sprinkler frame III at its widest point as seen in FIG. I ofthe drawings. The top portion 18 of the deflector extends sidewardly in oppositely disposed angularly related portions I9. the ends of which are also angularly formed relative to the ends of the rectangular top portion I8 as best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

By referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings. it will be seen that a cup-like portion is formed on the back of the deflector I5 and includes downturned right angularly disposed end portions 20 and 2]. the portions 21 conforming with the angular ends of the portions I9 heretofore described. The cup-like portion of the deflector I5 is completed by inturned angularly disposed continuing portions 22 and 23 which extend toward the sprinkler frame It) and terminate in closely spaced relation thereto on a common transverse line 24. The lower edges of the angularly disposed portions I9 are joined to the upper edges of the oppositely disposed continuing portions 22 and 23 by sidewalls 25. on one side of the frame It].

It will thus be seen that a deflector for a sidewall fire extinguishing sprinkler is formed of a plurality of interconnected angularly disposed deflecting surfaces which act to break up the vertical stream of fire extinguishing fluid directed thereagainst into a sidewardly projected spray pattern of substantially improved configuration.

The imprtncd spray pattern configuration realized with the sidewall deflector disclosed herein is believed to result from the plurality of angularly related flat planes defining the inner surface of the deflector and particularly its cup-like portion as hereinbefore described. The pattern is improved by the arrangement of the deflector relative to the upper portions of the sprinkler frame I0 and the enlarged upper central portion 14 thereof which as may be seen by referring to FIG. I of the drawings result in the creation of three separate forwardly directed spray areas. Of equal importance is the arrangement of the cup portion of the deflector with its inwardly and downwardly disposed continuing portions 22 and 23 and the vertical sidewalls 25 all of which insure that the portion of the initially vertically directed stream of fire extinguishing fluid striking the inner upper portion of the deflector will be almost completely directed oppositely and outwardly with respect to the cup portion of the deflector.

It will thus be seen that a simple. relatively inexpen sive and easy to install deflector for a tire extinguishing sprinkler has been disclosed which is particularly suit able for use as a sidewall deflector.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described. it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

I. A fire extinguishing sprinkler having a base with a discharge opening therethrough arranged for discharge of a fire extinguishing fluid. arms extending from said base to form a frame overlying the opening and a deflector mounted on the frame having at least one first deflecting surface at a right angle to the direction of flow through the discharge opening. said deflector ha\'- ing a right angularly disposed cup-shaped portion depending from said first deflecting surface on one side of said frame and including at least one second deflecting surface at a right angle to said first deflecting sur face and a further deflecting surface extending from said second deflecting surface toward said frame with side walls joining said further deflecting surface with portions of said first and second deflecting surfaces so as to form said cup-shaped portion.

2. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim I and wherein angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces are positioned on the sides of said first deflecting surface.

3. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein said angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces are formed integrally with said first deflecting surface and wherein the total width of said first and additional deflecting surfaces are substantially equal to the length thereof.

4. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein the first deflecting surface is rectangular (ill and there are two additional deflecting surfaces. one on each side of said first surface S. The tire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 4 and wherein the ends of said two additional deflecting surfaces are formed with an angular relation to the ends of the rectangular first deflecting surface 6. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim l and wherein said first deflecting surface has a central transversely flat section and angularly disposed sidewardly extending sections on either side thereof and wherein the second deflecting surfaces have a central transversely flat section with angularly disposed sections on either side thereof and wherein the further deflecting surface has a central transversely flat section with angular extensions on either side thereof so as to define a cup shaped portion that is deeper in the center than at its sides as defined by said sidewalls.

7. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein said side walls join said angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces. 

1. A fire extinguishing sprinkler having a base with a discharge opening therethrough arranged for discharge of a fire extinguishing fluid, arms extending from said base to form a frame overlying the opening and a deflector mounted on the frame having at least one first deflecting surface at a right angle to the direction of flow through the discharge opening, said deflector having a right angularly disposed cup-shaped portion depending from said first deflecting surface on one side of said frame and including at least one second deflecting surface at a right angle to said first defLecting surface and a further deflecting surface extending from said second deflecting surface toward said frame with side walls joining said further deflecting surface with portions of said first and second deflecting surfaces so as to form said cup-shaped portion.
 2. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 1 and wherein angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces are positioned on the sides of said first deflecting surface.
 3. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein said angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces are formed integrally with said first deflecting surface and wherein the total width of said first and additional deflecting surfaces are substantially equal to the length thereof.
 4. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein the first deflecting surface is rectangular and there are two additional deflecting surfaces, one on each side of said first surface.
 5. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 4 and wherein the ends of said two additional deflecting surfaces are formed with an angular relation to the ends of the rectangular first deflecting surface.
 6. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 1 and wherein said first deflecting surface has a central transversely flat section and angularly disposed sidewardly extending sections on either side thereof and wherein the second deflecting surfaces have a central transversely flat section with angularly disposed sections on either side thereof and wherein the further deflecting surface has a central transversely flat section with angular extensions on either side thereof so as to define a cup shaped portion that is deeper in the center than at its sides as defined by said sidewalls.
 7. The fire extinguishing sprinkler set forth in claim 2 and wherein said side walls join said angularly disposed additional deflecting surfaces. 